A team of students from King Edward VI School in Morpeth will be swapping the northern climes of Northumberland for the dreaming spires of Oxford thanks to their success in the Oxford German Network German Olympiad 2014.
Winners of the Group Film category, the group of seven pupils were charged with creating a play or film about any aspect of German society, life, events or culture in 1914, in homage to the huge significance of the First World War still clear a whole century later.
Their creation – available on YouTube here – was highly evocative of the era, in the form of a silent film with silent film music depicting the invention of Ammonia by German scientist Fritz Haber and is simultaneously informative and entertaining!
The opportunity to combine languages, film and science in one project was a rewarding experience for the pupils, who clearly enjoyed taking part:
"I really enjoyed working on our Oxford German Olympiad entry! It was really fun to produce! I knew that with the talent of the KEVI Student Voice members put together - we could make a fantastic video. I was in charge of editing the video and I played Fritz Haber (of course)..! When I heard that we’d won our category - I was really pleased! A lot of effort from everyone involved had gone into the entry and it was very rewarding to hear of our success. Thanks to all who participated in the entry and I look forward to going to Oxford University for the prize-giving ceremony in June.”
Freddie Bowles
Our congratulations go to all the students involved: Freddie Bowles, Calvin Willis, Dominic James (Year 13), Angus Kirk (Year 12), Amy Scott (Year 10), Alistair McCubbin, Lewis James and Lydia Wendt (Year 9). Our congratulations and thanks also go to teacher Victoria Najafi, who was inspired to pursue the project after reading about the competition in the Routes into Languages North East monthly bulletin.
"I am absolutely delighted that we have won the 'group film' category in this year's Oxford German Olympiad. It is a fantastic example of a cross-curricular project, involving our student-led TV channel 'KEVI TV' and German. We had such a lot of fun filming and editing, and we are delighted that so many people have enjoyed watching it. We are greatly looking forward to the prize-giving at Oxford University on 18th June, which will be a first-time visit for staff and students."
Victoria Najafi
Student Voice, Leadership & Enrichment Co-ordinator/Teacher of French & German, The King Edward VI School Morpeth
Victoria will join the pupils in traveling to Oxford University on 18th June to receive their prize.
